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Tamayo JM, Osman HC, Schwartzer JJ, Ashwood P. The influence of asthma on neuroinflammation and neurodevelopment: From epidemiology to basic models. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 116:218-228. [PMID: 38070621 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a highly heterogeneous inflammatory disease that can have a significant effect on both the respiratory system and central nervous system. Population based studies and animal models have found asthma to be comorbid with a number of neurological conditions, including depression, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition, maternal asthma during pregnancy has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring, such as autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this article, we review the most current epidemiological studies of asthma that identify links to neurological conditions, both as it relates to individuals that suffer from asthma and the impacts asthma during pregnancy may have on offspring neurodevelopment. We also discuss the relevant animal models investigating these links, address the gaps in knowledge, and explore the potential future directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Tamayo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Hadley C Osman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jared J Schwartzer
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology and Education, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, CA 95817, USA.
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2
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Gyles TM, Nestler EJ, Parise EM. Advancing preclinical chronic stress models to promote therapeutic discovery for human stress disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:215-226. [PMID: 37349475 PMCID: PMC10700361 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01625-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop more effective treatments for stress-related illnesses, which include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. We view animal models as playing an essential role in this effort, but to date, such approaches have generally not succeeded in developing therapeutics with new mechanisms of action. This is partly due to the complexity of the brain and its disorders, but also to inherent difficulties in modeling human disorders in rodents and to the incorrect use of animal models: namely, trying to recapitulate a human syndrome in a rodent which is likely not possible as opposed to using animals to understand underlying mechanisms and evaluating potential therapeutic paths. Recent transcriptomic research has established the ability of several different chronic stress procedures in rodents to recapitulate large portions of the molecular pathology seen in postmortem brain tissue of individuals with depression. These findings provide crucial validation for the clear relevance of rodent stress models to better understand the pathophysiology of human stress disorders and help guide therapeutic discovery. In this review, we first discuss the current limitations of preclinical chronic stress models as well as traditional behavioral phenotyping approaches. We then explore opportunities to dramatically enhance the translational use of rodent stress models through the application of new experimental technologies. The goal of this review is to promote the synthesis of these novel approaches in rodents with human cell-based approaches and ultimately with early-phase proof-of-concept studies in humans to develop more effective treatments for human stress disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevonn M Gyles
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Eric M Parise
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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3
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Glinin TS, Petrova MV, Shcherbinina V, Shubina AN, Dukelskaya AV, Starshova PV, Mamontova V, Burnusuz A, Godunova AO, Romashchenko AV, Moshkin MP, Khaitovich P, Daev EV. Pheromone of grouped female mice impairs genome stability in male mice through stress-mediated pathways. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17622. [PMID: 37848549 PMCID: PMC10582102 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44647-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Population density is known to affect the health and survival of many species, and is especially important for social animals. In mice, living in crowded conditions results in the disruption of social interactions, chronic stress, and immune and reproductive suppression; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the role of chemosignals in the regulation of mouse physiology and behavior in response to social crowding. The pheromone 2,5-dimethylpyrazine (2,5-DMP), which is released by female mice in crowded conditions, induced aversion, glucocorticoid elevation and, when chronic, resulted in reproductive and immune suppression. 2,5-DMP olfaction induced genome destabilization in bone marrow cells in a stress-dependent manner, providing a plausible mechanism for crowding-induced immune dysfunction. Interestingly, the genome-destabilizing effect of 2,5-DMP was comparable to a potent mouse stressor (immobilization), and both stressors led to correlated expression changes in genes regulating cellular stress response. Thus, our findings demonstrate that, in mice, the health effects of crowding may be explained at least in part by chemosignals and also propose a significant role of stress and genome destabilization in the emergence of crowding effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timofey S Glinin
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb., 7-9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034.
- Open Longevity, 15260 Ventura Blvd, STE 2230, Sherman Oaks, CA, 91403, USA.
- Endocrine Neoplasia Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Marina V Petrova
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb., 7-9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
- Center of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Bolshoy Blv. 30, Moscow, Russia, 121205
| | - Veronika Shcherbinina
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb., 7-9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
- Laboratory of Higher Nervous Activity Genetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Makarova Emb. 6, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
| | - Anastasia N Shubina
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb., 7-9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
- Open Longevity, 15260 Ventura Blvd, STE 2230, Sherman Oaks, CA, 91403, USA
| | - Anna V Dukelskaya
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb., 7-9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
| | - Polina V Starshova
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb., 7-9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
| | - Victoria Mamontova
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb., 7-9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center for Cancer Research (Mildred-Scheel-Nachwuchszentrum, MSNZ), University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter of the University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Burnusuz
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb., 7-9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
| | - Alena O Godunova
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, Academician Lavrentiev Avenue, 10, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
| | - Alexander V Romashchenko
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, Academician Lavrentiev Avenue, 10, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
- International Tomography Center, Institutskaya St., 3A, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
- Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies, RAS, St. January 9, 29, Orenburg, Russia, 460000
| | - Mikhail P Moshkin
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, Academician Lavrentiev Avenue, 10, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
| | - Philipp Khaitovich
- Center for Neurobiology and Brain Restoration, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 3 Nobelya St., Moscow, Russia, 121205
| | - Eugene V Daev
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb., 7-9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
- Laboratory of Higher Nervous Activity Genetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Makarova Emb. 6, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
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4
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Boyle CC, Bower JE, Eisenberger NI, Irwin MR. Stress to inflammation and anhedonia: Mechanistic insights from preclinical and clinical models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105307. [PMID: 37419230 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Anhedonia, as evidenced by impaired pleasurable response to reward, reduced reward motivation, and/or deficits in reward-related learning, is a common feature of depression. Such deficits in reward processing are also an important clinical target as a risk factor for depression onset. Unfortunately, reward-related deficits remain difficult to treat. To address this gap and inform the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies, it is critical to understand the mechanisms that drive impairments in reward function. Stress-induced inflammation is a plausible mechanism of reward deficits. The purpose of this paper is to review evidence for two components of this psychobiological pathway: 1) the effects of stress on reward function; and 2) the effects of inflammation on reward function. Within these two areas, we draw upon preclinical and clinical models, distinguish between acute and chronic effects of stress and inflammation, and address specific domains of reward dysregulation. By addressing these contextual factors, the review reveals a nuanced literature which might be targeted for additional scientific inquiry to inform the development of precise interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe C Boyle
- Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, USA.
| | - Julienne E Bower
- Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, USA; Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael R Irwin
- Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, USA
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5
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Tran I, Gellner AK. Long-term effects of chronic stress models in adult mice. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2023; 130:1133-1151. [PMID: 36786896 PMCID: PMC10460743 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02598-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as major depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, tend to be long-term conditions in whose development and maintenance stress are central pathogenic factors. Translational mouse models are widely used in neuropsychiatric research, exploiting social and non-social stressors to investigate the mechanisms underlying their detrimental effects. However, most studies focus on the short-term consequences of chronic stress, whereas only a few are interested in the long-term course. This is counterintuitive given the human conditions that preclinical models are designed to mimic. In this review, we have summarized the limited work to date on long-term effects of chronic stress in mice models. First, the different models are presented and a definition of short- vs. long-term sequelae is proposed. On this basis, behavioral, endocrine, and vegetative effects are addressed before examining data on cellular and molecular alterations in the brain. Finally, future directions for research on the long-term effects of stress are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inès Tran
- Institute of Physiology II, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anne-Kathrin Gellner
- Institute of Physiology II, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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6
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Mazzari G, Lowry CA, Langgartner D, Reber SO. Subcutaneous Mycobacterium vaccae ameliorates the effects of early life adversity alone or in combination with chronic stress during adulthood in male and female mice. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 26:100568. [PMID: 37727147 PMCID: PMC10506060 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic psychosocial stress is a burden of modern society and poses a clear risk factor for a plethora of somatic and affective disorders, of which most are associated with an activated immune status and chronic low-grade inflammation. Preclinical and clinical studies further suggest that a failure in immunoregulation promotes an over-reaction of the inflammatory stress response and, thus, predisposes an individual to the development of stress-related disorders. Therefore, all genetic (i.e., sex) and environmental (i.e., early life adversity; ELA) factors facilitating an adult's inflammatory stress response are likely to increase their stress vulnerability. In the present study we investigated whether repeated subcutaneous (s.c.) administrations with a heat-killed preparation of Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae; National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) 11659), an abundant soil saprophyte with immunoregulatory properties, are protective against negative behavioral, immunological and physiological consequences of ELA alone or of ELA followed by chronic psychosocial stress during adulthood (CAS) in male and female mice. ELA was induced by the maternal separation (MS) paradigm, CAS was induced by 19 days of chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) in males and by a 7-week exposure to the social instability paradigm (SIP) in females. Our data indicate that ELA effects in both sexes, although relatively mild, were to a great extent prevented by subsequent s.c. M. vaccae administrations. Moreover, although the use of different paradigms for males and females impedes a direct comparison, male mice seemed to be more susceptible to CAS than females, with only females benefitting slightly from the stress protective effects of s.c. M. vaccae administrations when given prior to CAS alone. Finally, our data support the hypothesis that female mice are more vulnerable to the additive effects of ELA and CAS than male mice and that s.c. M. vaccae administrations subsequent to ELA but prior to CAS are protective in both sexes. Taken together and considering the limitation that CAS in males and females was induced by different paradigms, our findings are consistent with the hypotheses that murine stress vulnerability during different phases of life is strongly sex dependent and that developing immunoregulatory approaches, such as repeated s.c. administrations with immunoregulatory microorganisms, have potential for prevention/treatment of stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Mazzari
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christopher A. Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Center for Microbial Exploration, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), The Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMRVAMC), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O. Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
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7
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Gryksa K, Schmidtner AK, Masís-Calvo M, Rodríguez-Villagra OA, Havasi A, Wirobski G, Maloumby R, Jägle H, Bosch OJ, Slattery DA, Neumann ID. Selective breeding of rats for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behaviour: A unique model for comorbid depression and social dysfunctions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105292. [PMID: 37353047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Animal models of selective breeding for extremes in emotionality are a strong experimental approach to model psychopathologies. They became indispensable in order to increase our understanding of neurobiological, genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, and environmental mechanisms contributing to anxiety disorders and their association with depressive symptoms or social deficits. In the present review, we extensively discuss Wistar rats selectively bred for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behaviour on the elevated plus-maze. After 30 years of breeding, we can confirm the prominent differences between HAB and LAB rats in trait anxiety, which are accompanied by consistent differences in depressive-like, social and cognitive behaviours. We can further confirm a single nucleotide polymorphism in the vasopressin promotor of HAB rats causative for neuropeptide overexpression, and show that low (or high) anxiety and fear levels are unlikely due to visual dysfunctions. Thus, HAB and LAB rats continue to exist as a reliable tool to study the multiple facets underlying the pathology of high trait anxiety and its comorbidity with depression-like behaviour and social dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Gryksa
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Anna K Schmidtner
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Marianella Masís-Calvo
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Odir A Rodríguez-Villagra
- Centro de Investigación en Neurosciencias, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Andrea Havasi
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Gwendolyn Wirobski
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Rodrigue Maloumby
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Herbert Jägle
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Oliver J Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - David A Slattery
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Heinrich-Hoffmann-Straße 10, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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8
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Langgartner D, Koenen M, Kupfer S, Glogger L, Kurz L, Perez-Rivas LG, Theodoropoulou M, Noll-Hussong M, Vettorazzi S, Tuckermann J, Reber SO. Intact GR dimerization is critical for restraining plasma ACTH levels during chronic psychosocial stress. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 24:100541. [PMID: 37215522 PMCID: PMC10196852 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Male C57BL/6N mice exposed to the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC; 19 days) paradigm, a preclinically validated model of chronic psychosocial stress, are characterized by unaffected basal morning plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentrations despite adrenal and pituitary hyperplasia and increased adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) plasma concentrations, compared with single-housed control (SHC) mice. However, as CSC mice are still able to show an increased CORT secretion towards novel heterotypic stressors, these effects might reflect an adaptation rather than a functional breakdown of general hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functionality. In the present study we used male mice of a genetically modified mouse line, to investigate whether genetically-driven ACTH overexpression compromises adaptational processes occurring at the level of the adrenals during CSC exposure. Experimental mice carried a point mutation in the DNA binding domain of the glucocorticoid (GC) receptor (GR), attenuating dimerization of GR (GRdim), resulting in a congenially compromised negative feedback inhibition at the level of the pituitary. In line with previous studies, CSC mice in both the wild type (WT; GR+/+) and GRdim group developed adrenal enlargement. Moreover, compared with respective SHC and WT mice, CSC GRdim mice show increased basal morning plasma ACTH and CORT concentrations. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed neither a genotype effect, nor a CSC effect on pituitary mRNA expression of the ACTH precursor proopiomelanocortin (POMC). Finally, CSC increased anxiety-related behavior, active coping and splenocyte in vitro (re)activity in both WT and GRdim mice, while a CSC-induced increase in adrenal lipid vesicles and splenic GC resistance was detectable only in WT mice. Of note, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated splenocytes of GRdim mice were resistant to the inhibitory effects of CORT. Together our findings support the hypothesis that pituitary ACTH protein concentration is negatively controlled by GR dimerization under conditions of chronic psychosocial stress, while POMC gene transcription is not dependent on intact GR dimerization under both basal and chronic stress conditions. Finally, our data suggest that adrenal adaptations during chronic psychosocial stress (i.e., ACTH desensitization), aiming at the prevention of prolonged hypercorticism, are protective only to a certain threshold of plasma ACTH levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mascha Koenen
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandra Kupfer
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lisa Glogger
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lisa Kurz
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Luis Gustavo Perez-Rivas
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic IV, LMU Clinic, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marily Theodoropoulou
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic IV, LMU Clinic, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Noll-Hussong
- Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Saarland University Medical Centre, Homburg, Germany
| | - Sabine Vettorazzi
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jan Tuckermann
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O. Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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Langgartner D, Amoroso M, Kempter E, Kustermann M, Scheurer J, Lowry CA, Strauß G, Reber SO. Mycobacterium vaccae protects against glucocorticoid resistance resulting from combined physical and psychosocial trauma in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 109:221-234. [PMID: 36736929 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress-related somatic and psychiatric disorders are often associated with a decline in regulatory T cell (Treg) counts and chronic low-grade inflammation. Recent preclinical evidence suggests that the latter is at least partly mediated by stress-induced upregulation of toll-like receptor (TLR)2 in newly generated neutrophils and polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs), as well as glucocorticoid (GC) resistance in predominantly PMN-MDSCs following stress-induced upregulation of TLR4 expression. Here we show in mice exposed to the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) paradigm that repeated intragastric (i.g.) administrations of a heat-killed preparation of Mycobacterium vaccae NCTC 11659, a saprophytic microorganism with immunoregulatory properties, protected against the stress-induced reduction in systemic Tregs, increase in basal and LPS-induced in vitro splenocyte viability, as well as splenic in vitro GC resistance. Our findings further support the hypothesis that i.g. M. vaccae protects against CSC-associated splenic GC resistance via directly affecting the myeloid compartment, thereby preventing the CSC-induced upregulation of TLR4 in newly generated PMN-MDSCs. In contrast, the protective effects of i.g. M. vaccae on the CSC-induced upregulation of TLR2 in neutrophils and the subsequent increase in basal and LPS-induced in vitro splenocyte viability seems to be indirectly mediated via the Treg compartment. These data highlight the potential for use of oral administration of M. vaccae NCTC 11659 to prevent stress-induced exaggeration of inflammation, a risk factor for development of stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mattia Amoroso
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Elena Kempter
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Monika Kustermann
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jasmin Scheurer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Center for Microbial Exploration, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), The Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMRVAMC), Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO 80045, USA; VIVO Planetary Health, of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), West NY, NJ 07093, USA
| | - Gudrun Strauß
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
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10
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Effects of Group Size on Behavior, Reproduction, and mRNA Expression in Brains of Brandt's Voles. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020311. [PMID: 36831854 PMCID: PMC9954483 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
For social animals, a moderate group size is greatly important to maintain their reproductive success. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanism of group size on behavior and reproduction has rarely been investigated. In this study, we examined the effects of group size (1, 2, 4 pairs of adult male and female voles raised per cage) on behavior and reproduction. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression of stress and reproduction response-related genes in male brains was detected. We found that Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) in the large-sized group fight more severely than those in the small-sized group. Meanwhile, male voles were more anxious than females. The average number of embryos and litters per female in the medium-sized group was significantly higher than that of large-sized group. In male voles, stress- or reproduction-response mRNA expressions were more related to final group size or final density due to death caused by fighting. Our results indicated that a moderate group size was beneficial to the reproductive output of Brandt's voles. Our study highlights the combined effects of stress- or reproduction-related gene expression or behavior in regulating the fitness of voles with different group sizes.
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11
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Bahi A, Dreyer JL. Effects of chronic psychosocial stress on 'binge-like' sucrose intake in mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 120:110625. [PMID: 36055562 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Binge eating episodes are persistent and are essential features of numerous eating disorders (EDs). Susceptibility to EDs is largely presumed to be associated with early life stress. In fact, converging evidence from preclinical animal studies have implicated stress as a driver of binge eating. Still, literature examination indicates that vulnerability to EDs may depend on factors such as severity, time, and the type of stressor. Therefore, we aimed at exploring the link between chronic psychosocial stress and 'binge-like' sucrose intake in adolescent mice. To this aim, intruders' experimental mice were exposed to the chronic subordinate colony (CSC) housing, in the presence of a resident aggressive mouse for 2 weeks. At the end of the stress period, mice were tested for anxiety-like behavior then assessed for 'binge-like' intake of sucrose using a long-term drinking in the dark (DID) method that successfully replicates binge eating in humans. As expected, and compared to single housed colony controls (SHC), CSC exposure elicited an anxiogenic-like response in the open field (OF) and elevated-plus maze (EPM) tests and reduced weight gain. Most importantly, we report here for the first time, that mice exposed to chronic psychosocial stress displayed a 'binge-like' consumption of sucrose. However, neither quinine (bitter) nor saccharin (sweet) intakes were affected by CSC exposure. Finally, using Pearson's correlation, results showed a strong correlation between anxiety-like behavior parameters and sucrose intake. Overall these findings support the validity of our chronic psychosocial stress to model binge EDs and establish the long-term consequences of stress on 'binge-like' eating in male mice. These data suggest that chronic psychosocial stress is a risk factor for developing anxiety-associated EDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Bahi
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Jean-Luc Dreyer
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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12
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Fujikawa R, Jinno S. Identification of hyper-ramified microglia in the CA1 region of the mouse hippocampus potentially associated with stress resilience. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5137-5153. [PMID: 36017697 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that some individuals are less affected by stress, and such individuals are called resilient. This study aimed to determine whether the specific phenotype of microglia might be involved in resilience using the social defeat stress paradigm. Male C57BL/6J (B6) mice were attacked by aggressive male ICR mice for five consecutive days. After stress exposure, the social behaviour was reduced in about half of the B6 mice (vulnerable), whereas no such change was observed in the remaining half of the B6 mice (resilient). Anxiety-like behaviour was increased in vulnerable mice compared with resilient mice and non-stressed controls. However, depression-related behaviour was comparable between the three groups. The morphological characteristics of microglia in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus in non-stressed controls and resilient mice differed from those in vulnerable mice. Interestingly, the voxel densities of GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic puncta colocalized with microglia were higher in resilient mice than in non-stressed controls and vulnerable mice. Microglia were then objectively classified into three morphological types by hierarchical cluster analysis. The appearance of type I microglia resembled the so-called resting ramified microglia and represented the major population of microglia in non-stressed controls. Type II microglia exhibited a de-ramified morphology and accounted for 60% of the microglia in vulnerable mice. Type III microglia showed a hyper-ramified morphology and represented more than half of the microglia in resilient mice. These results suggest that hyper-ramified microglia in the hippocampus may be associated with stress resilience via the modulation of synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risako Fujikawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shozo Jinno
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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13
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Behnsen P, van Lier P, Levavi K, Marieke Buil J, Huizink A, Koot S, Atzaba‐Poria N. The potential moderating role of living in a conflict area on the link between classroom psychosocial stressors, perceived stress and change in anxiety symptoms in Israeli school children. JCPP ADVANCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pia Behnsen
- Department of Clinical, Neuro‐ and Developmental Psychology Vrije University Amsterdam Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Pol van Lier
- Department of Clinical, Neuro‐ and Developmental Psychology Vrije University Amsterdam Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Kinneret Levavi
- Department of Psychology Ben Gurion University of the Negev Be'er Sheva Israel
| | - Joanne Marieke Buil
- Department of Clinical, Neuro‐ and Developmental Psychology Vrije University Amsterdam Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Anja Huizink
- Department of Clinical, Neuro‐ and Developmental Psychology Vrije University Amsterdam Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Susanne Koot
- Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Naama Atzaba‐Poria
- Department of Psychology Ben Gurion University of the Negev Be'er Sheva Israel
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14
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Rupprecht R, Wetzel CH, Dorostkar M, Herms J, Albert NL, Schwarzbach J, Schumacher M, Neumann ID. Translocator protein (18kDa) TSPO: a new diagnostic or therapeutic target for stress-related disorders? Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2918-2926. [PMID: 35444254 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01561-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Efficient treatment of stress-related disorders, such as depression, is still a major challenge. The onset of antidepressant drug action is generally quite slow, while the anxiolytic action of benzodiazepines is considerably faster. However, their long-term use is impaired by tolerance development, abuse liability and cognitive impairment. Benzodiazepines act as positive allosteric modulators of ɣ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors. 3α-reduced neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone also are positive allosteric GABAA receptor modulators, however, through a site different from that targeted by benzodiazepines. Recently, the administration of neurosteroids such as brexanolone or zuranolone has been shown to rapidly ameliorate symptoms in post-partum depression or major depressive disorder. An attractive alternative to the administration of exogenous neurosteroids is promoting endogenous neurosteroidogenesis via the translocator protein 18k Da (TSPO). TSPO is a transmembrane protein located primarily in mitochondria, which mediates numerous biological functions, e.g., steroidogenesis and mitochondrial bioenergetics. TSPO ligands have been used in positron emission tomography (PET) studies as putative markers of microglia activation and neuroinflammation in stress-related disorders. Moreover, TSPO ligands have been shown to modulate neuroplasticity and to elicit antidepressant and anxiolytic therapeutic effects in animals and humans. As such, TSPO may open new avenues for understanding the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders and for the development of novel treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Rupprecht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Christian H Wetzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mario Dorostkar
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Herms
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377, Munich, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Nathalie L Albert
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Schwarzbach
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schumacher
- Research Unit 1195, INSERM and University Paris-Saclay, 94276, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, University Regensburg, 93040, Regensburg, Germany
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15
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Pagliusi M, Franco D, Cole S, Morais-Silva G, Chandra R, Fox ME, Iñiguez SD, Sartori CR, Lobo MK. The BDNF-TrkB Pathway Acts Through Nucleus Accumbens D2 Expressing Neurons to Mediate Stress Susceptible Outcomes. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:854494. [PMID: 35722560 PMCID: PMC9200970 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.854494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a critical role in stress response including neuropsychiatric disorders that are precipitated by stress, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). BDNF acts through its full-length BDNF receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) to trigger a pro-plasticity effect. In contrast, the truncated isoform of the BDNF receptor (TrkB.t1) triggers an anti-plasticity effect. In stress outcomes, BDNF acting in the hippocampus has a stress resilience effect, and, inversely, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), BDNF acts as a stress susceptible molecule. It is unknown if BDNF-TrkB acts on a specific NAc projection neuron, i.e., medium spiny neuron (MSN or spiny projection neuron), a subtype in stress outcomes. To determine this, we performed chronic social or vicarious witness defeat stress (CSDS or CWDS) in mice expressing TrkB.t1 in dopamine receptor 1 or 2 containing MSNs (D1- or D2-MSNs). Our results showed that TrkB.t1 overexpression in NAc D2-MSNs prevented the CSDS-induced social avoidance or other stress susceptible behaviors in male and female mice. We further showed that this overexpression in D2-MSNs blocked stress susceptible behavior induced by intra-NAc BDNF infusion. In contrast, our results demonstrate that overexpression of TrkB.t1 on NAc D1-MSNs facilitates the SDS susceptible behaviors. Our study provides enhanced details into the NAc cell subtype role of BDNF-TrkB signaling in stress outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pagliusi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Daniela Franco
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Shannon Cole
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Gessynger Morais-Silva
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, Araraquara, Brazil
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Megan E. Fox
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sergio D. Iñiguez
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Cesar R. Sartori
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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16
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Blocking Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Subtype 7 via the Venus Flytrap Domain Promotes a Chronic Stress-Resilient Phenotype in Mice. Cells 2022; 11:cells11111817. [PMID: 35681512 PMCID: PMC9180111 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic psychosocial stress participates prominently in the etiology of various psychiatric conditions and comorbid somatic pathologies; however, suitable pharmacotherapy of these disorders is still of high medical need. During the last few decades, research on mGlu receptors advanced remarkably and much attention was given to the mGlu7 subtype. Here, genetic mGlu7 ablation, short-term pharmacological mGlu7 blockade, as well as siRNA-mediated knockdown of mGlu7 were shown to result in an acute anti-stress, antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like phenotype in mice. Moreover, we recently revealed a prominent stress-protective effect of genetic mGlu7 ablation also with respect to chronic psychosocial stress. In addition, we are able to demonstrate in the present study that the chronic pharmacological blockade of mGlu7 interferes with various chronic stress-induced alterations. For this, we used the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC), a mouse model of chronic male subordination, in combination with chronic treatment with the mGlu7-selective orthosteric-like antagonist XAP044 (7-hydroxy-3-(4-iodophenoxy)-4H-chromen-4-one). Interestingly, XAP044 dose-dependently ameliorates hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysfunctions, thymus atrophy, as well as the CSC-induced increase in innate anxiety. Taken together, our findings provide further evidence for the role of mGlu7 in chronic psychosocial stress-induced alterations and suggests the pharmacological blockade of mGlu7 as a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of chronic stress-related pathologies in men.
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17
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Chronic mild stress paradigm as a rat model of depression: facts, artifacts, and future perspectives. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:663-693. [PMID: 35072761 PMCID: PMC8785013 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05982-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm was first described almost 40 years ago and has become a widely used model in the search for antidepressant drugs for major depression disorder (MDD). It has resulted in the publication of almost 1700 studies in rats alone. Under the original CMS procedure, the expression of an anhedonic response, a key symptom of depression, was seen as an essential feature of both the model and a depressive state. The prolonged exposure of rodents to unpredictable/uncontrollable mild stressors leads to a reduction in the intake of palatable liquids, behavioral despair, locomotor inhibition, anxiety-like changes, and vegetative (somatic) abnormalities. Many of the CMS studies do not report these patterns of behaviors, and they often fail to include consistent molecular, neuroanatomical, and physiological phenotypes of CMS-exposed animals. OBJECTIVES To critically review the CMS studies in rats so that conceptual and methodological flaws can be avoided in future studies. RESULTS Analysis of the literature supports the validity of the CMS model and its impact on the field. However, further improvements could be achieved by (i) the stratification of animals into 'resilient' and 'susceptible' cohorts within the CMS animals, (ii) the use of more refined protocols in the sucrose test to mitigate physiological and physical artifacts, and (iii) the systematic evaluation of the non-specific effects of CMS and implementation of appropriate adjustments within the behavioral tests. CONCLUSIONS We propose methodological revisions and the use of more advanced behavioral tests to refine the rat CMS paradigm, which offers a valuable tool for developing new antidepressant medications.
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18
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Gryksa K, Neumann ID. Consequences of pandemic-associated social restrictions: Role of social support and the oxytocin system. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 135:105601. [PMID: 34837776 PMCID: PMC8605825 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
During pandemics, governments take drastic actions to prevent the spreading of the disease, as seen during the present COVID-19 crisis. Sanctions of lockdown, social distancing and quarantine urge people to exclusively work and teach at home and to restrict social contacts to a minimum; lonely people get into further isolation, while families` nerves are strained to the extreme. Overall, this results in a dramatic and chronic increase in the level of psychosocial stress over several months mainly caused by i) social isolation and ii) psychosocial stress associated with overcrowding, social tension in families, and domestic violence. Moreover, pandemic-associated social restrictions are accompanied by loss of an essential stress buffer and important parameter for general mental and physical health: social support. Chronic psychosocial stress and, in particular, social isolation and lack of social support affect not only mental health, but also the brain oxytocin system and the immune system. Hence, pandemic-associated social restrictions are expected to increase the risk of developing psychopathologies, such as depression, anxiety-related and posttraumatic stress disorders, on the one hand, but also to induce a general inflammatory state and to impair the course of infectious disorders on the other. Due to its pro-social and stress-buffering effects, resulting in an anti-inflammatory state in case of disease, the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin will be discussed and critically considered as an emerging treatment option in cases of pandemic-induced psychosocial stress, viral infection and during recovery. In this review, we aim to critically focus on possible short- and long-term consequences of social restrictions on mental health and the immune system, while discussion oxytocin as a possible treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Gryksa
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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19
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Levone BR, Cryan JF, O'Leary OF. Specific sub-regions of the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus mediate behavioural responses to chronic psychosocial stress. Neuropharmacology 2021; 201:108843. [PMID: 34666075 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the hippocampus is functionally segregated along its longitudinal axis into a dorsal (dHi) sub-region, shown to play roles in learning & memory and a ventral sub-region (vHi), involved in anxiety and antidepressant action. Recent studies also suggest that the intermediate hippocampus (iHi) might be functionally independent, but it has received relatively little attention. We recently found that the iHi is involved in the behavioural effects of chronic treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine in the forced swim test. However, the roles of specific sub-regions of the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus in the response to chronic stress, a risk factor for depression and anxiety disorders, has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we used excitotoxic lesions of the dHi, iHi or vHi in male C57BL/6 mice to investigate the roles of these sub-regions in the behavioural (anxiety, anhedonia, depression) responses to chronic psychosocial stress. We found that stress-induced increases in anxiety in the novelty-induced hypophagia and marble burying tests were prevented by each of the sub-region lesions, but only vHi lesions attenuated stress-induced anxiety in the open field test. Stress-induced anhedonia was reduced in dHi- and vHi- but not iHi-lesioned mice. In stressed mice, only vHi lesions induced an antidepressant-like effect in the forced swim test and prolonged latency to adopt a defeat posture during social defeat, suggesting an increase in stress resilience. Interestingly, iHi lesions increased stress-induced social avoidance in the social interaction test. In summary, we found that all hippocampal sub-regions are involved in the anxiogenic effects of chronic stress but that the iHi plays a predominant role in stress-induced social avoidance and the vHi has a predominant role in active coping behaviours and antidepressant-like behaviour following chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brunno Rocha Levone
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F Cryan
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Olivia F O'Leary
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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20
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Obomsawin AP, Mastromonaco GF, Leonard ML. Chronic noise exposure has context-dependent effects on stress physiology in nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 311:113834. [PMID: 34181934 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is increasing in intensity and scope, resulting in changes to acoustic landscapes and largely negative effects on a range of species. In birds, noise can mask acoustic signals used in a variety of communication systems, including parent-offspring communication. As a result, nestling birds raised in noise may have challenges soliciting food from parents and avoiding detection by predators. Given that passerine nestlings are confined to a nest and therefore cannot escape these challenges, noise may also act as a chronic stressor during their development. Here, we raised Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings with or without continuous, white noise to test whether noise exposure affected baseline and stress-induced plasma, integrated feather corticosterone levels, and immune function. Stress physiology and immune function may also vary with the competitive environment during development, so we also examined whether noise effects varied with brood size and nestling mass. We found that overall, exposure to noise did not alter nestling stress physiology or immune function. However, light nestlings raised in noise exhibited lower baseline plasma and integrated feather corticosterone than heavy nestlings, suggesting alternative physiological responses to anthropogenic stimuli. Furthermore, light nestlings in larger broods had reduced PHA-induced immune responses compared to heavy nestlings, and PHA-induced immune responses were associated with higher levels of baseline plasma and feather CORT. Overall, our findings suggest that noise can alter the stress physiology of developing birds; however, these effects may depend on developmental conditions and the presence of other environmental stressors, such as competition for resources. Our findings may help to explain why populations are not uniformly affected by noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anik P Obomsawin
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | | | - Marty L Leonard
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
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21
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Zheng J, Tian Y, Xu H, Gu L, Xu H. A Standardized Protocol for the Induction of Specific Social Fear in Mice. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1708-1712. [PMID: 34283397 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00754-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Junqiang Zheng
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yuanyuan Tian
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Haifeng Xu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Linfan Gu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Han Xu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China. .,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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22
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Understanding stress: Insights from rodent models. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2021; 2:100013. [PMID: 36246514 PMCID: PMC9559100 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2021.100013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Through incorporating both physical and psychological forms of stressors, a variety of rodent models have provided important insights into the understanding of stress physiology. Rodent models also have provided significant information with regards to the mechanistic basis of the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders such as anxiety disorders, depressive illnesses, cognitive impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, rodent models of stress have served as valuable tools in the area of drug screening and drug development for treatment of stress-induced conditions. Although rodent models do not accurately reproduce the biochemical or physiological parameters of stress response and cannot fully mimic the natural progression of human disorders, yet, animal research has provided answers to many important scientific questions. In this review article, important studies utilizing a variety of stress models are described in terms of their design and apparatus, with specific focus on their capabilities to generate reliable behavioral and biochemical read-out. The review focusses on the utility of rodent models by discussing examples in the literature that offer important mechanistic insights into physiologically relevant questions. The review highlights the utility of rodent models of stress as important tools for advancing the mission of scientific research and inquiry. Stressful life events may lead to the onset of severe psychopathologies in humans. Rodents may model many features of stress exposure in human populations. Induction of stress via pharmacological and psychological manipulations alter rodent behavior. Mechanistic rodent studies reveal key molecular targets critical for new therapeutic targets.
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23
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Brain oxytocin: how puzzle stones from animal studies translate into psychiatry. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:265-279. [PMID: 32514104 PMCID: PMC7278240 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0802-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin has attracted great attention of the general public, basic neuroscience researchers, psychologists, and psychiatrists due to its profound pro-social, anxiolytic, and "anti-stress" behavioral and physiological effects, and its potential application for treatment of mental diseases associated with altered socio-emotional competence. During the last decade, substantial progress has been achieved in understanding the complex neurobiology of the oxytocin system, including oxytocinergic pathways, local release patterns, and oxytocin receptor distribution in the brain, as well as intraneuronal oxytocin receptor signaling. However, the picture of oxytocin actions remains far from being complete, and the central question remains: "How does a single neuropeptide exert such pleotropic actions?" Although this phenomenon, typical for many of about 100 identified neuropeptides, may emerge from the anatomical divergence of oxytocin neurons, their multiple central projections, distinct oxytocin-sensitive cell types in different brain regions, and multiple intraneuronal signaling pathways determining the specific cellular response, further basic studies are required. In conjunction, numerous reports on positive effects of intranasal application of oxytocin on human brain networks controlling socio-emotional behavior in health and disease require harmonic tandems of basic researchers and clinicians. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, oxytocin research seems central as question of social isolation-induced inactivation of the oxytocin system, and buffering effects of either activation of the endogenous system or intranasal application of synthetic oxytocin need to be thoroughly investigated.
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Inducing a stressed phenotype in healthy recipient mice by adoptively transferring CD4 + lymphocytes from mice undergoing chronic psychosocial stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 122:104898. [PMID: 33126029 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Although chronic stress is an acknowledged risk factor for the development of somatic and affective disorders, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying stress-induced pathologies are not fully understood. Interestingly, rodent studies involving immune cell transfer suggest that CD4+ T cells might be at least in part involved in reactivation of a chemically-induced colitis by stress. However, until now evidence is lacking that these immune cell types are indeed involved in the development of a "stressed phenotype". The aim of the present study was, therefore, to assess the effects of adoptively transferring total mesenteric lymph node cells (mesLNCs) and CD4+ mesLNCs isolated from chronically-stressed mice into healthy recipient mice on various physiological, immunological and behavioral parameters. To induce chronic psychosocial stress in donor mice we employed the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) paradigm. Our data indicate that transfer of total or CD4+ mesLNCs from CSC mice, compared with respective cells from single-housed control (SHC) mice, promoted splenomegaly and interferon (IFN)-γ secretion from in vitro anti-CD3-stimulated mesLNCs in naïve recipient mice. This effect was independent of recipient mice additionally being administered with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) or not. Transfer of CD4+ mesLNCs additionally increased adrenal weight and secretion of IL-6 from in vitro anti-CD3 stimulated mesLNCs in recipients administered with DSS. Importantly, transfer of neither cell type from CSC vs. SHC donor mice affected anxiety-related behavior of recipient mice in the light-dark box. Taken together, our data demonstrate that typical physiological and immunological, but not behavioral, effects of chronic stress can be induced in naïve recipient mice by adoptively transferring mesLNCs, in particular CD4+ mesLNCs, from chronically stressed donor mice.
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Langgartner D, Marks J, Nguyen TC, Reber SO. Changes in adrenal functioning induced by chronic psychosocial stress in male mice: A time course study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 122:104880. [PMID: 33065459 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC, 19 days), an established and preclinically-validated mouse model for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), causes evening hypocorticism and a reduced adrenal in vitro ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) sensitivity despite pronounced adrenal hyperplasia. However, until now it remains unclear at what time point during CSC exposure evening hypocorticism and adrenal in vitro ACTH insensitivity develop and whether the repeated change of dominant aggressor mice plays an important role in this context. It is, therefore, the aim of the current study, to explore the detailed time course of these stress-induced adrenal changes. METHODS Adrenal weight, plasma corticosterone (CORT) and ACTH were assessed in the morning of days 8 (right before exposure to the 2nd aggressor), 9 (24 h after exposure to the 2nd aggressor), 15 (right before exposure to the 3rd aggressor), 16 (24 h after exposure to the 3rd aggressor) and 20 or in the evening of days 8 (10 h after exposure to the 2nd aggressor), 9 (34 h after exposure to the 2nd aggressor), 15 (10 h after exposure to the 3rd aggressor), 16 (34 h after exposure to the 3rd aggressor) and 20 of CSC exposure. Moreover, we in vitro cultured adrenal explants of all mice euthanized in the morning of days 8, 9, 15, 16 and 20 either in the presence or absence of ACTH to subsequently assess CORT concentration in the supernatants. RESULTS Our results indicate that while adrenal mass was increased at all time points assessed, plasma morning CORT only transiently increased in response to the 2nd (on day 8) but not 3rd (on day 15) dominant aggressor mouse. Moreover, although mild signs of adrenal in vitro ACTH insensitivity developed already after one week of CSC exposure, moderate and severe adrenal in vitro ACTH insensitivity required two and three weeks of chronic subordination, respectively. CONCLUSION Together with unaffected plasma ACTH levels at all time points assessed, our data suggest that stress-induced adrenal in vitro ACTH insensitivity develops gradually during times of chronic subordination while subordination to different aggressor mice aggravates its severity. Moreover, a mild form of adrenal ACTH insensitivity seems to allow prevention of morning hypercorticism on day 8 of CSC, despite functional adrenal mass being increased, while a moderate and severe form of adrenal ACTH insensitivity in CSC mice seems to promote HPA axis adaptation to repeated homotypic stressor exposure (i.e. dominant aggressor mice) and basal evening hypocorticism in CSC mice, respectively. Our results might, therefore, be the basis for future clinical studies assessing CORT supplementation as novel treatment regimen for somatic and affective pathologies linked to chronic and/or traumatic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Janina Marks
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Thien C Nguyen
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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Amoroso M, Böttcher A, Lowry CA, Langgartner D, Reber SO. Subcutaneous Mycobacterium vaccae promotes resilience in a mouse model of chronic psychosocial stress when administered prior to or during psychosocial stress. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 87:309-317. [PMID: 31887415 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic psychosocial stress is a risk factor for many mental disorders, including affective disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders (i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD). As these disorders are associated with an overreactive immune system and chronic low-grade inflammation, immunoregulatory approaches counterbalancing basal and/or stress-induced immune activation should be protective in this context. In support of this hypothesis, we recently demonstrated that repeated subcutaneous (s.c.) preimmunization with a heat-killed preparation of the immunoregulatory bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae; National Collection of Type Culture (NCTC) 11659) promoted proactive stress coping and protected against stress-induced anxiety and intestinal pathology in a mouse model of chronic psychosocial stress. To induce development of a chronic anxiety-like state, the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) paradigm was used. Here we employed the CSC paradigm (start day 1) to confirm the stress-protective effects of repeated s.c. M. vaccae administrations prior to CSC exposure (days -21, -14, and -7) and to extend these findings to the stress-protective role of M. vaccae when administered repeatedly during CSC exposure (days 2, 8 and 15). As readouts we assessed the stress coping behavior on days 1, 8, and 15 and general and/or social anxiety-related behavior on days 19 (elevated plus-maze), 20 (open-field/novel object test), and day 21 (social preference/avoidance test) of CSC exposure. In line with our previous study, M. vaccae administered prior to CSC strongly promoted active stress coping and moderately reduced CSC-induced general and social anxiety. Although M. vaccae administered during CSC did not affect stress coping, this treatment protocol profoundly protected against CSC-induced general, and to a lesser extent social, anxiety. Taken together, these data broaden the framework for developing bioimmunoregulatory approaches, based on the administration of immunoregulatory microorganisms, for the prevention and/or treatment of affective disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related psychiatric disorders like PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Amoroso
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Alexandra Böttcher
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Center for Neuroscience, and Center for Microbial Exploration, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA; Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), The Rocky Mountain Regional Medical Center (RMRMC), Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
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Langgartner D, Wachter U, Hartmann C, Gröger M, Vogt J, Merz T, McCook O, Fink M, Kress S, Georgieff M, Kunze JF, Radermacher PL, Reber SO, Wepler M. Effects of Psychosocial Stress on Subsequent Hemorrhagic Shock and Resuscitation in Male Mice. Shock 2020; 51:725-730. [PMID: 29889818 DOI: 10.1097/shk.0000000000001204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypoxemia and tissue ischemia during hemorrhage as well as formation of oxygen and nitrogen radicals during resuscitation promote hyperinflammation and, consequently, trigger severe multi-organ failure (MOF). Individuals diagnosed with stress-related disorders or reporting a life history of psychosocial stress are characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation and a reduced glucocorticoid (GC) signaling. We hypothesized that exposure to chronic psychosocial stress during adulthood prior to hemorrhagic shock increases oxidative/nitrosative stress and therefore the risk of developing MOF in mice. METHODS AND FINDINGS To induce chronic psychosocial stress linked to mild immune activation and reduced GC signaling in male mice, the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) paradigm was employed. Single-housed (SHC) mice were used as controls. Subsequently, CSC and SHC mice were exposed to hemorrhagic shock following resuscitation to investigate the effects of prior psychosocial stress load on survival, organ function, metabolism, oxidative/nitrosative stress, and inflammatory readouts. An increased adrenal weight in CSC mice indicates that the stress paradigm reliably worked. However, no effect of prior psychosocial stress on outcome after subsequent hemorrhage and resuscitation could be detected. CONCLUSIONS Chronic psychosocial stress during adulthood is not sufficient to promote hemodynamic complications, organ dysfunction, metabolic disturbances and did not increase the risk of MOF after subsequent hemorrhage and resuscitation. Intravenous norepinephrine to keep target hemodynamics might have led to a certain level of oxidative stress in both groups and, therefore, disguised potential effects of chronic psychosocial stress on organ function after hemorrhagic shock in the present murine trauma model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ulrich Wachter
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Clair Hartmann
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Gröger
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Josef Vogt
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tamara Merz
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Oscar McCook
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marina Fink
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandra Kress
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Julia F Kunze
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter L Radermacher
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin Wepler
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Bahi A, Dreyer JL. Environmental enrichment decreases chronic psychosocial stress-impaired extinction and reinstatement of ethanol conditioned place preference in C57BL/6 male mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:707-721. [PMID: 31786650 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05408-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE During the last few decades, alcohol use disorders (AUD) have reached an epidemic prevalence, yet social influences on alcoholism have not been fully addressed. Several factors can modulate alcohol intake. On one hand, stress can reinforce ethanol-induced behaviors and be an important component in AUD and alcoholism. On the other hand, environmental enrichment (EE) has a neuroprotective role and prevents the development of excessive ethanol intake in rodents. However, studies showing the role of EE in chronic psychosocial stress-impaired ethanol-conditioned rewards are nonexistent. AIM The purpose of the current study is to explore the potential protective role of EE on extinction and reinstatement of ethanol-conditioned place preference (EtOH-CPP) following chronic psychosocial stress. METHODS In the first experiment and after the EtOH-CPP test, the mice were subjected to 15 days of chronic stress, then housed in a standard (SE) or enriched environment (EE) while EtOH-CPP extinction was achieved by repeated exposure to the CPP chambers without ethanol injection. In the second experiment and after the EtOH-CPP test, extinction was achieved as described above. Mice were then exposed to chronic stress for 2 weeks before being housed in a SE or EE. EtOH-CPP reinstatement was induced by a single exposure to the conditioning chambers. RESULTS As expected, stress exposure increased anxiety-like behavior and reduced weight gain. More importantly, we found that EE significantly shortened chronic stress-delayed extinction and decreased the reinstatement of EtOH-CPP. CONCLUSION These results support the hypothesis that EE reduces the impact of alcohol-associated environmental stimuli, and hence it may be a general intervention for reducing cue-elicited craving and relapse in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Bahi
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE. .,Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Jean-Luc Dreyer
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Kuti D, Winkler Z, Horváth K, Juhász B, Paholcsek M, Stágel A, Gulyás G, Czeglédi L, Ferenczi S, Kovács KJ. Gastrointestinal (non-systemic) antibiotic rifaximin differentially affects chronic stress-induced changes in colon microbiome and gut permeability without effect on behavior. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 84:218-228. [PMID: 31821847 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress is often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms, which might be due to stress-induced shift of gut microbiome to pathogenic bacteria. It has been hypothesized that stress alters gut permeability and results in mild endotoxemia which exaggerates HPA activity and contributes to anxiety and depression. To reveal the relationship between microbiome composition, stress-induced gastrointestinal functions and behavior, we treated chronically stressed mice with non-absorbable antibiotic, rifaximin. The "two hits" stress paradigm was used, where newborn mice were separated from their mothers for 3 h daily as early life adversity (maternal separation, MS) and exposed to 4 weeks chronic variable stress (CVS) as adults. 16S rRNA based analysis of gut microbiome revealed increases of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and more specifically, Clostridium species in chronically stressed animals. In mice exposed to MS + CVS, we found extenuation of colonic mucosa, increased bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph node, elevation of plasma LPS levels and infiltration of F4/80 positive macrophages into the colon lamina propria. Chronically stressed mice displayed behavioral signs of anxiety-like behavior and neophobia. Rifaximin treatment decreased Clostridium concentration, gut permeability and LPS plasma concentration and increased colonic expression of tight junction proteins (TJP1, TJP2) and occludin. However, these beneficial effects of rifaximin in chronically stressed mice was not accompanied by positive changes in behavior. Our results suggest that non-absorbable antibiotic treatment alleviates stress-induced local pathologies, however, does not affect stress-induced behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dániel Kuti
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary; János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Winkler
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Horváth
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary; János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Juhász
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary; János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Melinda Paholcsek
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Anikó Stágel
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Gulyás
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Levente Czeglédi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Szilamér Ferenczi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina J Kovács
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
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Morgan A, Kondev V, Bedse G, Baldi R, Marcus D, Patel S. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition reduces anxiety-like behavior and normalizes enhanced amygdala glutamatergic transmission following chronic oral corticosterone treatment. Neurobiol Stress 2019; 11:100190. [PMID: 31467944 PMCID: PMC6710559 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2019.100190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress increases the probability of receiving an anxiety, depression, or chronic illness diagnosis. Pharmacological interventions that reduce the behavioral and physiological effects of chronic stress in animal models may represent novel approaches for the treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders. Here, we examined the effects of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition on anxiety-like behaviors and amygdala glutamatergic signaling after chronic non-invasive oral corticosterone (CORT) administration in mice. Treatment with the highly selective COX-2 inhibitor Lumiracoxib (LMX) reversed anxiety-like behavior induced by chronic CORT. Specifically, acute and repeated administration of LMX 5 mg kg−1 reduced chronic CORT-induced anxiety-like behavior measured using the elevated-plus maze, elevated-zero maze, and light-dark box tests. In contrast, LMX did not affect anxiety-like behaviors in naïve mice. Ex vivo electrophysiology studies revealed that repeated LMX treatment normalized chronic CORT-induced increases in spontaneous excitatory glutamatergic currents recorded from anterior, but not posterior, basolateral amygdala neurons. These data indicate COX-2 inhibition can reverse chronic CORT-induced increases in anxiety-like behaviors and amygdala glutamatergic signaling, and support further clinical investigation of selective COX-2 inhibitors for the treatment of affective and stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Morgan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Veronika Kondev
- The Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Gaurav Bedse
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Rita Baldi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - David Marcus
- The Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,The Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, TN, 37232, USA
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Foertsch S, Lackner I, Weber B, Füchsl AM, Langgartner D, Wirkert E, Peters S, Fois G, Pressmar J, Fegert JM, Frick M, Gündel H, Kalbitz M, Reber SO. Sensory contact to the stressor prevents recovery from structural and functional heart damage following psychosocial trauma. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 80:667-677. [PMID: 31085218 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disorders (CVD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly comorbid, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Chronic psychosocial stress was induced in male mice by chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC), a pre-clinically validated mouse model for PTSD. Cardiac structure and function were assessed on day 20 of the CSC paradigm. Following CSC, mice were kept in different sensory contact modalities to the last aggressor for 30 days, and development of cardiac function and behavioral aspects were determined. Here we show that psychosocial trauma affects heart structure by disturbing cell-to-cell integrity of cardiomyocytes, causes tachycardia, disturbance of diurnal heart rate rhythmicity and behavioral deficits in a mouse model for PTSD. Structural and functional alterations were also found in cardiomyocytes upon in vitro treatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines typically increased after psychosocial trauma. Interestingly, sensory contact to the aggressor subsequent to psychosocial trauma prohibits functional and structural heart recovery, while isolation was beneficial for cardiac but detrimental for mental health. These findings contribute to our understanding of potential mechanisms underlying the high comorbidity of CVD and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Foertsch
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ina Lackner
- Department of Traumatology, Hand, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Birte Weber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andrea M Füchsl
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Eva Wirkert
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sebastian Peters
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Giorgio Fois
- Institute of General Physiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jochen Pressmar
- Department of Traumatology, Hand, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jörg M Fegert
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Manfred Frick
- Institute of General Physiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Harald Gündel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Miriam Kalbitz
- Department of Traumatology, Hand, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
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Intranasal Mycobacterium vaccae administration prevents stress-induced aggravation of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 80:595-604. [PMID: 31059809 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing body of evidence indicates that immunodysregulation and subsequent chronic low-grade inflammation can promote the development of stress-related somatic and psychiatric pathologies, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thus, immunoregulatory approaches counterbalancing basal and/or stress-induced immune activation should have stress-protective potential. In support of this hypothesis, we recently demonstrated that repeated s.c. preimmunization with a heat-killed preparation of the immunoregulatory bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae; National Collection of Type Culture (NCTC) 11659), protects mice against stress-induced general anxiety, spontaneous colitis, and aggravation of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) paradigm, a validated model for PTSD in male mice. In the current study, we repeatedly administered M. vaccae via the non-invasive intranasal (i.n.; 0.1 mg/mouse/administration) route, prior to or during CSC exposure or single housed control (SHC) conditions, and assessed the effects on general and social anxiety, and on parameters related to the severity of DSS-induced colitis. While administration of M. vaccae prior to the onset of CSC exposure only had minor stress-protective effects, administration of M. vaccae during CSC completely prevented CSC-induced aggravation of DSS colitis. As CSC in the current experimental setting did not reliably increase general anxiety-related behavior, potential stress-protective effects of M.vaccae are difficult to interpret. Taken together, these data broaden the framework for developing bioimmunoregulatory approaches, based on the administration of microorganisms with anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties, for the prevention of stress-related disorders.
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Cross AJ, Goharpey N, Laycock R, Crewther SG. Anxiety as a Common Biomarker for School Children With Additional Health and Developmental Needs Irrespective of Diagnosis. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1420. [PMID: 31293480 PMCID: PMC6598107 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently very little evidence is available regarding the biological characteristics and common comorbid behaviors that are associated with children characterized by learning difficulties who require additional support at school. These children are usually referred to as having Additional Health and Developmental Needs by the Australian Government and the associated public education system more broadly though the problems may arise from academic, social and/or emotional stressors and may or may not include children with clinically diagnosed Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety levels (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale- Parent Report), autism traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient - Child Version) and sleep quality (Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children) in children with Additional Health and Developmental Needs without an intellectual disability, but with either a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (N = 25), Speech and Language Impairment (N = 37) or Other Diagnosis (N = 22). Our results demonstrated that these children with Additional Health and Developmental Needs showed atypically high levels of anxiety and impaired sleep quality, with the ASD group reporting more impairments associated with comorbid anxiety and sleep quality than either of the other clinically diagnosed groups. In fact, greater anxiety level was associated with a greater number of autism traits and poorer sleep quality regardless of diagnostic group suggesting that anxiety is a common experience for children with Additional Health and Developmental Needs. It is suggested that assessment of anxiety, sleep behaviors and autism traits may be useful markers for early identification of children within this population, thus providing scope for early and targeted intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana Jade Cross
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nahal Goharpey
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Robin Laycock
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Radwan B, Liu H, Chaudhury D. The role of dopamine in mood disorders and the associated changes in circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycle. Brain Res 2019; 1713:42-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Berger I, Werdermann M, Bornstein SR, Steenblock C. The adrenal gland in stress - Adaptation on a cellular level. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 190:198-206. [PMID: 30959152 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Human individuals are constantly confronted to various kinds of stressors and the body's response and adaptation is essential for human health. The adrenal gland as the main producer of stress hormones plays a major role in the response to physiological challenges and is able to adapt to these physiological needs. Proper adaptation is of particular importance since dysregulation of the stress system is the cause of various human diseases including obesity, depression, Parkinson's disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, it is fundamental to understand the physiological, cellular, and molecular underpinnings of the stress adaptation in humans. Because of ethical reasons it is problematic to study the plasticity of the human gland in stress. Hence, various experimental models have been established for the analysis of the functional and cellular role of the adrenal gland adaptation on a translational approach. Here, we summarize the insights of stress-induced adrenal plasticity gained from these models and discuss their relevance to clinical observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Berger
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Werdermann
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan R Bornstein
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Charlotte Steenblock
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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Chronic psychosocial stress compromises the immune response and endochondral ossification during bone fracture healing via β-AR signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:8615-8622. [PMID: 30948630 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1819218116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic psychosocial stress/trauma represents an increasing burden in our modern society and a risk factor for the development of mental disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD, in turn, is highly comorbid with a plethora of inflammatory disorders and has been associated with increased bone fracture risk. Since a balanced inflammatory response after fracture is crucial for successful bone healing, we hypothesize that stress/trauma alters the inflammatory response after fracture and, consequently, compromises fracture healing. Here we show, employing the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) paradigm as a clinically relevant mouse model for PTSD, that mice subjected to CSC displayed increased numbers of neutrophils in the early fracture hematoma, whereas T lymphocytes and markers for cartilage-to-bone transition and angiogenesis were reduced. At late stages of fracture healing, CSC mice were characterized by decreased bending stiffness and bony bridging of the fracture callus. Strikingly, a single systemic administration of the β-adrenoreceptor (AR) blocker propranolol before femur osteotomy prevented bone marrow mobilization of neutrophils and invasion of neutrophils into the fracture hematoma, both seen in the early phase after fracture, as well as a compromised fracture healing in CSC mice. We conclude that chronic psychosocial stress leads to an imbalanced immune response after fracture via β-AR signaling, accompanied by disturbed fracture healing. These findings offer possibilities for clinical translation in patients suffering from PTSD and fracture.
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Hassell JE, Nguyen KT, Gates CA, Lowry CA. The Impact of Stressor Exposure and Glucocorticoids on Anxiety and Fear. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2019; 43:271-321. [PMID: 30357573 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2018_63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders and trauma- and stressor-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are common and are associated with significant economic and social burdens. Although trauma and stressor exposure are recognized as a risk factors for development of anxiety disorders and trauma or stressor exposure is recognized as essential for diagnosis of PTSD, the mechanisms through which trauma and stressor exposure lead to these disorders are not well characterized. An improved understanding of the mechanisms through which trauma or stressor exposure leads to development and persistence of anxiety disorders or PTSD may result in novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these disorders. Here, we review the current state-of-the-art theories, with respect to mechanisms through which stressor exposure leads to acute or chronic exaggeration of avoidance or anxiety-like defensive behavioral responses and fear, endophenotypes in both anxiety disorders and trauma- and stressor-related psychiatric disorders. In this chapter, we will explore physiological responses and neural circuits involved in the development of acute and chronic exaggeration of anxiety-like defensive behavioral responses and fear states, focusing on the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and glucocorticoid hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Hassell
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - K T Nguyen
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - C A Gates
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - C A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Denver, CO, USA.
- Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, USA.
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Langgartner D, Vaihinger CA, Haffner-Luntzer M, Kunze JF, Weiss ALJ, Foertsch S, Bergdolt S, Ignatius A, Reber SO. The Role of the Intestinal Microbiome in Chronic Psychosocial Stress-Induced Pathologies in Male Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:252. [PMID: 30464743 PMCID: PMC6234875 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic psychosocial stress is a risk factor for the development of physical and mental disorders accompanied or driven by an activated immune system. Given that chronic stress-induced systemic immune activation is lacking in germ-free and antibiotics-treated mice, a causal role of the gut microbiome in the development of stress-related disorders is likely. To address this hypothesis in the current study we employed the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC, 19 days) paradigm, a pre-clinically validated mouse model for chronic psychosocial stress, known to alter the gut microbial signature and to induce systemic low-grade inflammation, as well as physical and mental abnormalities. In detail, we investigated if (i) CSC-induced alterations can be prevented by repeated transplantation of feces (FT) from non-stressed single-housed control (SHC) mice during CSC exposure, and (ii) if the transplantation of a “stressed” CSC microbiome is able to induce CSC effects in SHC mice. Therefore, we repeatedly infused SHC and CSC recipient mice rectally with SHC donor feces at days 4 and 11 of the CSC paradigm and assessed anxiety-related behavior on day 19 as well as physiological, immunological, and bone parameters on day 20. Furthermore, SHC and CSC recipient mice were infused with CSC donor feces at respective days. To exclude effects of rectal infusions per se, another set of SHC and CSC mice was infused with saline, respectively. Our results showed that transplantation of SHC feces had mild stress-protective effects, indicated by an amelioration of CSC-induced thymus atrophy, anxiety, systemic low-grade inflammation, and alterations in bone homeostasis. Moreover, transplantation of CSC feces slightly aggravated CSC-induced systemic low-grade inflammation and alterations in bone homeostasis in SHC and/or CSC animals. In conclusion, our data provide evidence for a role of the host’s microbiome in many, but not all, adverse consequences of chronic psychosocial stress. Moreover, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that transplantation of healthy feces might be a useful tool to prevent/treat different adverse outcomes of chronic stress. Finally, our data suggests that stress effects can be transferred to a certain extend via FT, proposing therapeutic approaches using FT to carefully screen fecal donors for their stress/trauma history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Carolyn A Vaihinger
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Melanie Haffner-Luntzer
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Julia F Kunze
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena J Weiss
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandra Foertsch
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stephanie Bergdolt
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anita Ignatius
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Keenan RJ, Chan J, Donnelly PS, Barnham KJ, Jacobson LH. The social defeat/overcrowding murine psychosocial stress model results in a pharmacologically reversible body weight gain but not depression - related behaviours. Neurobiol Stress 2018; 9:176-187. [PMID: 30450383 PMCID: PMC6234278 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder, yet its etiology is not well understood. The validation of animal models is therefore a critical step towards advancing knowledge about the neurobiology of depression. Psychosocial stress has been promoted as a prospective animal model of depression, however, different protocols exist with variable responses, and further investigations are therefore required. We aimed to characterise the behavioural and body weight responses to the social defeat/overcrowding (SD/OC) model and to explore the effects of the antidepressant fluoxetine and the peroxynitrite scavenger, CuII(atsm), therein. Male C57BL/6JArc mice were exposed to a 19 day SD/OC protocol at two levels of aggression, determined by terminating SD bouts after one, or approximately five social defeat postures. This was followed by a battery of behavioural tests including social interaction test (SIT), locomotor activity (LMA), light-dark box test (LDB), saccharin preference test (SPT) and the forced swim test (FST). Mice were dosed daily with vehicle, fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) or CuII(atsm) (30 mg/kg) throughout the protocol. SD/OC increased body weight compared to controls, which was abolished by fluoxetine and attenuated by CuII(atsm). Weight gain specifically peaked during OC sessions but was not affected by either drug treatment. Fluoxetine reduced the number of defeat postures during fight bouts on some days. SD/OC otherwise failed to elicit depression- or anxiety-like behaviour in the tests measured. These data raise questions over the SD/OC model as an etiological model of depression-related behaviours but highlight the potential of this model for investigations into mechanisms regulating binge eating and weight gain under conditions of chronic social stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Keenan
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Jacky Chan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul S Donnelly
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Kevin J Barnham
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Laura H Jacobson
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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Langgartner D, Füchsl AM, Kaiser LM, Meier T, Foertsch S, Buske C, Reber SO, Mulaw MA. Biomarkers for classification and class prediction of stress in a murine model of chronic subordination stress. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202471. [PMID: 30183738 PMCID: PMC6124755 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Selye defined stress as the nonspecific response of the body to any demand and thus an inherent element of all diseases. He reported that rats show adrenal hypertrophy, thymicolymphatic atrophy, and gastrointestinal ulceration, referred to as the stress triad, upon repeated exposure to nocuous agents. However, Selye's stress triad as well as its extended version including reduced body weight gain, increased plasma glucocorticoid (GC) concentrations, and GC resistance of target cells do not represent reliable discriminatory biomarkers for chronic stress. To address this, we collected multivariate biological data from male mice exposed either to the preclinically validated chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) paradigm or to single-housed control (SHC) condition. We then used principal component analysis (PCA), top scoring pairs (tsp) and support vector machines (SVM) analyses to identify markers that discriminate between chronically stressed and non-stressed mice. PCA segregated stressed and non-stressed mice, with high loading for some of Selye's stress triad parameters. The tsp analysis, a simple and highly interpretable statistical approach, identified left adrenal weight and relative thymus weight as the pair with the highest discrimination score and prediction accuracy validated by a blinded dataset (92% p-value < 0.0001; SVM model = 83% accuracy and p-value < 0.0001). This finding clearly shows that simultaneous consideration of these two parameters can be used as a reliable biomarker of chronic stress status. Furthermore, our analysis highlights that the tsp approach is a very powerful method whose application extends beyond what has previously been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andrea M. Füchsl
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lisa M. Kaiser
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tatjana Meier
- Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandra Foertsch
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian Buske
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O. Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Medhanie A. Mulaw
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Masis-Calvo M, Schmidtner AK, de Moura Oliveira VE, Grossmann CP, de Jong TR, Neumann ID. Animal models of social stress: the dark side of social interactions. Stress 2018; 21:417-432. [PMID: 29745275 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2018.1462327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Social stress occurs in all social species, including humans, and shape both mental health and future interactions with conspecifics. Animal models of social stress are used to unravel the precise role of the main stress system - the HPA axis - on the one hand, and the social behavior network on the other, as these are intricately interwoven. The present review aims to summarize the insights gained from three highly useful and clinically relevant animal models of psychosocial stress: the resident-intruder (RI) test, the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC), and the social fear conditioning (SFC). Each model brings its own focus: the role of the HPA axis in shaping acute social confrontations (RI test), the physiological and behavioral impairments resulting from chronic exposure to negative social experiences (CSC), and the neurobiology underlying social fear and its effects on future social interactions (SFC). Moreover, these models are discussed with special attention to the HPA axis and the neuropeptides vasopressin and oxytocin, which are important messengers in the stress system, in emotion regulation, as well as in the social behavior network. It appears that both nonapeptides balance the relative strength of the stress response, and simultaneously predispose the animal to positive or negative social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianela Masis-Calvo
- a Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology , University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Anna K Schmidtner
- a Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology , University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | | | - Cindy P Grossmann
- a Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology , University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Trynke R de Jong
- a Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology , University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
- b Medische Biobank Noord-Nederland B.V , Groningen , Netherlands
| | - Inga D Neumann
- a Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology , University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
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van der Kooij MA, Zalachoras I, Sandi C. GABAA receptors in the ventral tegmental area control the outcome of a social competition in rats. Neuropharmacology 2018; 138:275-281. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Ali AA, Ahmed HI, Barakat BM, Elariny HA. Impact of Sensory Contact Model on Psychosocial Stress and Correlation with Immunological Changes. JOURNAL OF EXPLORATORY RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY 2018; 3:19-29. [DOI: 10.14218/jerp.2017.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Chronic anthropogenic noise disrupts glucocorticoid signaling and has multiple effects on fitness in an avian community. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E648-E657. [PMID: 29311304 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1709200115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is a pervasive pollutant that decreases environmental quality by disrupting a suite of behaviors vital to perception and communication. However, even within populations of noise-sensitive species, individuals still select breeding sites located within areas exposed to high noise levels, with largely unknown physiological and fitness consequences. We use a study system in the natural gas fields of northern New Mexico to test the prediction that exposure to noise causes glucocorticoid-signaling dysfunction and decreases fitness in a community of secondary cavity-nesting birds. In accordance with these predictions, and across all species, we find strong support for noise exposure decreasing baseline corticosterone in adults and nestlings and, conversely, increasing acute stressor-induced corticosterone in nestlings. We also document fitness consequences with increased noise in the form of reduced hatching success in the western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), the species most likely to nest in noisiest environments. Nestlings of all three species exhibited accelerated growth of both feathers and body size at intermediate noise amplitudes compared with lower or higher amplitudes. Our results are consistent with recent experimental laboratory studies and show that noise functions as a chronic, inescapable stressor. Anthropogenic noise likely impairs environmental risk perception by species relying on acoustic cues and ultimately leads to impacts on fitness. Our work, when taken together with recent efforts to document noise across the landscape, implies potential widespread, noise-induced chronic stress coupled with reduced fitness for many species reliant on acoustic cues.
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Foertsch S, Haffner-Luntzer M, Kroner J, Gross F, Kaiser K, Erber M, Reber SO, Ignatius A. Chronic psychosocial stress disturbs long-bone growth in adolescent mice. Dis Model Mech 2017; 10:1399-1409. [PMID: 28982680 PMCID: PMC5769608 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.030916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Although a strong association between psychiatric and somatic disorders is generally accepted, little is known regarding the interrelationship between mental and skeletal health. Although depressive disorders have been shown to be strongly associated with osteoporosis and increased fracture risk, evidence from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients is less consistent. Therefore, the present study investigated the influence of chronic psychosocial stress on bone using a well-established murine model for PTSD. C57BL/6N mice (7 weeks old) were subjected to chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) for 19 days, whereas control mice were singly housed. Anxiety-related behavior was assessed in the open-field/novel-object test, after which the mice were euthanized to assess endocrine and bone parameters. CSC mice exhibited increased anxiety-related behavior in the open-field/novel-object test, increased adrenal and decreased thymus weights, and unaffected plasma morning corticosterone. Microcomputed tomography and histomorphometrical analyses revealed significantly reduced tibia and femur lengths, increased growth-plate thickness and reduced mineral deposition at the growth plate, suggesting disturbed endochondral ossification during long-bone growth. This was associated with reduced Runx2 expression in hypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate. Trabecular thicknesses and bone mineral density were significantly increased in CSC compared to singly housed mice. Tyrosine hydroxylase expression was increased in bone marrow cells located at the growth plates of CSC mice, implying that local adrenergic signaling might be involved in the effects of CSC on the skeletal phenotype. In conclusion, chronic psychosocial stress negatively impacts endochondral ossification in the growth plate, affecting both longitudinal and appositional bone growth in adolescent mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Foertsch
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Melanie Haffner-Luntzer
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Jochen Kroner
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Florian Gross
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Kathrin Kaiser
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Maike Erber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Anita Ignatius
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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Solomon MB. Evaluating social defeat as a model for psychopathology in adult female rodents. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:763-776. [PMID: 27870445 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Social conflict is a predominant stressor in humans and is associated with increased risk for developing psychological illnesses including depression and anxiety. Overwhelmingly, more women suffer from these disorders, which may be due to increased stress sensitivity. Like humans, rodents experience a myriad of physiological and behavioral sequelae due to prolonged stress exposure. Although the motivation for social conflict may differ between humans and rodents, female rodents may provide an opportunity to explore the underlying mechanisms by which stress confers risk for psychopathology in women. Because most female rodents do not express spontaneous aggression, the majority of basic research examines the physiological and behavioral outcomes of social conflict in male rodents. However, there are instances where female rodents exhibit territorial (California mice and Syrian hamsters) and maternal aggression (rats, mice, and hamsters) creating a venue to examine sex differences in physiology and behavior in response to stress. While many studies rely upon nonsocial behavioral assays (e.g., elevated plus maze, forced swim test) to assess the impact of stress on emotionality, here we primarily focus on behavioral outcomes in social-based assays in rodents. This is critically important given that disruptions in social relationships can be a cause and consequence of neuropsychiatric diseases. Next, we briefly discuss how sex differences in the recruitment of neural circuitry and/or neurochemistry in response to stress may underlie sex differences in neuroendocrine and behavioral stress responses. Finally, the translational value of females in rodent stress models and considerations regarding behavioral interpretations of these models are discussed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matia B Solomon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Langgartner D, Peterlik D, Foertsch S, Füchsl AM, Brokmann P, Flor PJ, Shen Z, Fox JG, Uschold-Schmidt N, Lowry CA, Reber SO. Individual differences in stress vulnerability: The role of gut pathobionts in stress-induced colitis. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 64:23-32. [PMID: 28012830 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC), an established mouse model for chronic psychosocial stress, promotes a microbial signature of gut inflammation, characterized by expansion of Proteobacteria, specifically Helicobacter spp., in association with colitis development. However, whether the presence of Helicobacter spp. during CSC is critically required for colitis development is unknown. Notably, during previous CSC studies performed at Regensburg University (University 1), male specific-pathogen-free (SPF) CSC mice lived in continuous subordination to a physically present and Helicobacter spp.-positive resident. Therefore, it is likely that CSC mice were colonized, during the CSC procedure, with Helicobacter spp. originating from the dominant resident. In the present study we show that employing SPF CSC mice and Helicobacter spp.-free SPF residents at Ulm University (University 2), results in physiological responses that are typical of chronic psychosocial stress, including increased adrenal and decreased thymus weights, decreased adrenal in vitro adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responsiveness, and increased anxiety-related behavior. However, in contrast to previous studies that used Helicobacter spp.-positive resident mice, use of Helicobacter spp.-negative resident mice failed to induce spontaneous colitis in SPF CSC mice. Consistent with the hypothesis that the latter is due to a lack of Helicobacter spp. transmission from dominant residents to subordinate mice during the CSC procedure, colonization of SPF residents with Helicobacter typhlonius at University 2, prior to the start of the CSC model, rescued the colitis-inducing potential of CSC exposure. Furthermore, using SPF CSC mice and H. typhlonius-free SPF residents at University 1 prevented CSC-induced colitis. In summary, our data support the hypothesis that the presence or absence of exposure to certain pathobionts contributes to individual variability in susceptibility to stress-/trauma-associated pathologies and to reproducibility of stress-related outcomes between laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel Peterlik
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Foertsch
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Andrea M Füchsl
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Petra Brokmann
- Animal Research Facility, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter J Flor
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Zeli Shen
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - James G Fox
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Nicole Uschold-Schmidt
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA; Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO 80220, USA; Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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de Lima APN, Massoco CO. Passive adaptation to stress in adulthood after short-term social instability stress during adolescence in mice. Stress 2017; 20:329-332. [PMID: 28367664 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2017.1313223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study reports that short-term social instability stress (SIS) in adolescence increases passive-coping in adulthood in male mice. Short-term SIS decreased the latency of immobility and increased the frequency and time of immobility in tail suspension test. These findings support the hypothesis that adolescent stress can induce a passive adaptation to stress in adulthood, even if it is a short period of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P N de Lima
- a Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine , University of Sao Paulo , Sao Paulo , Brazil
| | - C O Massoco
- b Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo , Sao Paulo , Brazil
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50
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Peterlik D, Stangl C, Bauer A, Bludau A, Keller J, Grabski D, Killian T, Schmidt D, Zajicek F, Jaeschke G, Lindemann L, Reber SO, Flor PJ, Uschold-Schmidt N. Blocking metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 relieves maladaptive chronic stress consequences. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 59:79-92. [PMID: 27524668 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Etiology and pharmacotherapy of stress-related psychiatric conditions and somatoform disorders are areas of high unmet medical need. Stressors holding chronic plus psychosocial components thereby bear the highest health risk. Although the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGlu5) is well studied in the context of acute stress-induced behaviors and physiology, virtually nothing is known about its potential involvement in chronic psychosocial stress. Using the mGlu5 negative allosteric modulator CTEP (2-chloro-4-[2-[2,5-dimethyl-1-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]imidazol-4yl]ethynyl]pyridine), a close analogue of the clinically active drug basimglurant - but optimized for rodent studies, as well as mGlu5-deficient mice in combination with a mouse model of male subordination (termed CSC, chronic subordinate colony housing), we demonstrate that mGlu5 mediates multiple physiological, immunological, and behavioral consequences of chronic psychosocial stressor exposure. For instance, CTEP dose-dependently relieved hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunctions, colonic inflammation as well as the CSC-induced increase in innate anxiety; genetic ablation of mGlu5 in mice largely reproduced the stress-protective effects of CTEP and additionally ameliorated CSC-induced physiological anxiety. Interestingly, CSC also induced an upregulation of mGlu5 in the hippocampus, a stress-regulating brain area. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that mGlu5 is an important mediator for a wide range of chronic psychosocial stress-induced alterations and a potentially valuable drug target for the treatment of chronic stress-related pathologies in man.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Peterlik
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christina Stangl
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Amelie Bauer
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Anna Bludau
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jana Keller
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Grabski
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Killian
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dominic Schmidt
- Institute of Immunology, University of Regensburg, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Zajicek
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Georg Jaeschke
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Discovery Chemistry, Roche Innovation Center Basel, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lothar Lindemann
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Discovery Neuroscience, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter J Flor
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Nicole Uschold-Schmidt
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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